As a horror movie junkie, I come across a lot of off beat Horror movies as well as the run in the mill straight to video. I will share my thoughts of the ones that I see this month. So, if you seen a movie new or old and want to share your thoughts go ahead, and if its horror, even better!!!!

I will edit in my horror views here with my rating scale on how I liked it.....

Mystic River (2003)- interesting movie directed by Clint Eastwood starring Sean Penn, Tim Robbins and Kevin Bacon. Penn and Robbins won Oscars for best actor and best supporting actor for this movie. Kind of a murder mystery with compelling twists and turns. Very well done. 7/8.

1945 - One of the best films I will see this year. The story is of what happens at the end of WWII when Jews come back to a community in which they previously lived. Do they want revenge? Will they demand their property back? What do they want?

The Hungarian director obviously loves the American film, High Noon (1952) as he borrows many motifs, images and even the story line template from that film. Just like High Noon, there are clocks everywhere, ticking away the minutes until an event revolving around a train takes place. There is also a crucial moment which takes place in a church full of people and involves a plea for help, just as in High Noon.

Run Silent, Run Deep 1958 - This is at least the second time I have seen this WWII flick about a submarine crew. Clark Gable, Burt Lancaster, Don Rickles (yes, that DR) and Jack Warden. I thought the acting left a little to be desired, but the movie did a good job of depicting the multiple perils of being on a sub during wartime. Those torpedoes, depth charges and Jap Zeros (?) get your attention!

Brilliant, deeply dark comedy about the events that unfolded immediately after the death of Joseph Stalin. Great performances by a host of diverse actors. The decision by the director to allow the actors to portray their characters using non-Russian accents was inspired. Whether it's Steve Buscemi's nasally Nikita Krushchev or Jason Isaacs bombastic cockney Marshal Zhukov, it works.

If you're a history buff you should check this movie out. It's a masterful tale of life under a totalitarian dictatorship. It's also nice to see "Hollywood" actually make a movie critical of the most evil ideology of the 20th century - no, not the Nazis but the communists.

Buscemi plays Krushchev? I gotta see this? Buscemi is a string bean and Krushchev was a balding fat man who stood 5'3".

Yes he does and against all odds it works. The guy that steals the show IMO though is Jason Isaacs as Marshal Zhukov. Zhukov was the red army's greatest WW2 general (think Patton but only tougher) and he played a crucial role in the post Stalin death coup attempts.

The other surprise is that behind the dark humor the story is historically very accurate.

Godspell (1973) - Much more dated than its contemporary Jesus Christ Superstar (1973). The film tells the gospel in a very entertaining nature but the slapstick, pantomime and Sesame Street like action leaves a lot of people cold. One has to remember this was a film made by young "show kids" in the early seventies who grew up watching early film comedies on tv. There was a lot of Keystone Cops and Chaplin type shtick.

Godspell (1973) - Much more dated than its contemporary Jesus Christ Superstar (1973). The film tells the gospel in a very entertaining nature but the slapstick, pantomime and Sesame Street like action leaves a lot of people cold. One has to remember this was a film made by young "show kids" in the early seventies who grew up watching early film comedies on tv. There was a lot of Keystone Cops and Chaplin type shtick.

The songs are very good and hold up well.

4/8

I attended a Catholic high school in the early-to-mid seventies and a nun played the song "Day by Day" (from "Godspell") every single day before class started.

We nicknamed her "Sister Groovy".

Our entire school also watched "Jesus Christ Superstar" in the school gym before our Easter break. Groovy.

Words and Music (1948) - Very sad story of Lorenz Hart of the musical team Rodgers and Hart (before Rodgers teamed up with Hammerstein). The movie was a star studded tribute to Hart and his music but all of the glitz could not hide the obvious difficulty of being a gay man in 1930's and 1940's Hollywood. They played it off by describing his depression as being a result of being rejected by one woman who was his only serious relationship but most gay men in Hollywood at that time married or pursued women publically as a "beard". I am glad things are easier, relatively speaking, for gay men today.

An unintended influence on Rock and Roll music was his partner making the "50's progression" popular in their hit "Blue Moon" which became a torch song and a rock and roll standard. The cord progression created the foundation for early rock and roll.

Horror: Stephen King adaptation. A struggling farmer in 1922 will go through drastic matters so keep his land... 4.0/8

Before I Wake (2016)

Horror: A couple foster an 8 year boy with a deadly gift. This one was from Mike Flanagan who has become one of my favorites in the horror genre as he as done the movies: Absentia, Oculus, Hush, Ouija: Origin of Evil, and Gerald's Game. Before I Wake is an amazing film and had a scene that made me about crap myself. This guy knows how to do movies!!!! Great job by the actor who plays the little boy who sold the part perfectly..... 7.0/8

Horror: A doctor is haunted by a little girl to the point where it starts to destroy his career. Oh the secrets we have in this one.... ok, I really liked the story but this one had no delivery. The ghost girl was not scary at all but could of been with some better direction.... 4.0/8

The Ritual (UK-2017)

Horror: 4 chums head into the wilderness of Sweden or Denmark not quite sure and experience strange events when they seek shelter from a storm in an old cabin. Oh yes, this is my type of film.... 6.0/8

5/8
Sci-fi: I love Gal Gadot and they did a pretty good job of casting the heroes. The main villain (Steppenwolf) was a terrible choice because he is an obscure DC character. Plus, all I could think of was going on a magic carpet ride. They should've had Darkseid as the villain.

Horror/Comedy: A 12 year old boy Cole who gets picked on still has a babysitter but hey, she is very hot. One day Cole decides to see what she does after he is supposed to go to sleep, well, I'm not telling..... This was an entertaining watch and if you can ignore the flaws it is a blast.... 6.0/8

Horror: This is not the one with Robert D'Nero. We are back in India and this time a group of 6 find themselves trapped in a closed mall and forced to play a deadly game of Hide and Seek. This one was pretty bad and the score made it worse. Of course we had that "Saw" like twist at the end but I could care less by then. I needed a bad one like this..... 1.5/8

I would jones if they had an episode where these characters were watching an old Adam West episode. Reactions could be hilarious. There was some other show, a re-do or show about a show, I was thinking this would be a cool idea, but I can't think of it now.

Horror: this one was strange and felt a lot like "Prince of Darkness". A police officer takes an injured man to a closing understaffed hospital and here is where bizarre things takes place. Not sure if I really understood everything that was happening but the 80's feel made it an interesting watch and I'm glad they old schooled the creature affects! CGI creatures would of ruined it!!!!! ... 5.5/8